Madison Marsh knows that the best ingredients for every meal are passion and joy. As the author of The Cut Cookbook, Marsh, an MSU senior within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is the 2022 recipient of the Ian Gray Scholarship in Entrepreneurial Studies.
Today, Marsh’s cutting-edge recipes aim to serve her community, taking strides to make her customers’ cooking experiences easy, fun, and delicious.
Inspired to share her love of cooking, Marsh wrote The Cut Cookbook, focusing on easy- to-make recipes with delicious, organic ingredients. The book also showcases Marsh’s photography throughout, placing the spotlight on the beauty surrounding her home in Northern Michigan. Marsh aims to spread her passion for healthy and organic food while honoring the many wonders Michigan has to offer.
With busy daily schedules and complicated recipes, cooking often becomes a chore for many. Recognizing the power of a good meal, Marsh knows food brings people together and nurtures the body and soul. The Cut Cookbook is designed to encourage adventurousness in the kitchen and inspire cooks of all skill levels.
“Cooking should not be a stressful experience,” Marsh explained. “With The Cut Cookbook, we are creating the mind, plus body, plus food connection to help our consumers restore their relationship with food and find joy in cooking.”
Each year, the Ian Gray Scholarship is awarded to an MSU student exhibiting exceptional entrepreneurial qualities. Named after Ian Gray, who spearheaded the creation of the Innovation Center and served as Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at MSU for nearly a decade, this scholarship honors Marsh’s determination as a young, motivated innovator.
The recipient of the Ian Gray Scholarship receives $2,000 per semester to help cover tuition or student expenses. With her tuition supported, Marsh plans to invest more into her venture, expanding The Cut Cookbook’s reach while creating new products under The Cut brand to serve her customers.
“After launching The Cut Cookbook, we had tremendous feedback from our customers saying how much they loved the quick, easy, and healthy recipes,” Marsh expressed. “This sparked an idea for me to create The Cut Vegan sauces, a versatile line of delicious, shelf-stable sauces that can be used to elevate your cooking experience.”
Marsh’s involvement within the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has helped provide resources, support, and experience opportunities to feed her curiosity and passions. In April, she found herself competing against People’s Choice Award in the 2022 Burgess New Venture Challenge. Most recently, Marsh traveled to Chicago to compete in DePaul University’s Fifth Annual University Pitch Madness Competition, using the experience to network with student innovators from across the Midwest, and make connections with inspiring community members.
Marsh also serves as President of MSU’s Women in Entrepreneurship student organization, leading a team of motivated student innovators with the experience she’s gained through her opportunities.
Her goal is to grow her business and pursue her entrepreneurial passion full- time after graduation. Marsh says, “I will be graduating after this year, and I hope that throughout my senior year, I can help inspire other young aspiring entrepreneurs at MSU because it has been a fantastic learning experience and a place to grow.”